Access control is a cornerstone to effective property management, with applications in nearly all facets of community operations. While access is often discussed holistically on the property level, it can be optimized by deployment location to enhance team efficiency, property performance, building integrity and resident satisfaction.

Access control systems can also be customized for each community, and designed to optimize the user experience. Deployed strategically, access control can enhance both the first impression for visiting prospects and the day-to-day living experience for residents. Seamless yet exclusive access to various points throughout the community demonstrates a level of coordination and professionalism that prospects can expect at the community, increasing lead-to-lease conversion. Residents accustomed to living with thoughtfully executed access controls will recognize the shortcomings and inefficiencies that exist elsewhere, boosting renewal rates.

Operators can unlock the NOI potential of their communities and augment operations by upgrading access controls across their communities. Here is a breakdown, by location, of strategic access control opportunities.

Perimeter & Common Areas:

Monitoring and restricting access at the exterior access points are essential to effectively manage foot traffic into buildings from the perimeter. The designated use of the particular building being accessed, and the anticipated volume of traffic through the access point, will determine the access control technology that is deployed. SmartRent, for example, averages 10-15 controlled access door/gate installations as well as common areas and amenity spaces per community. Understanding where, when and how a perimeter access point needs to be controlled allows operators to purposely direct and maintain the traffic flow through their buildings.

Buildings with a primary perimeter entrance through which most foot traffic is funneled will require access controls that enable it to be locked on a schedule and during non-business hours. Other doors to the same building may remain locked at all times from the outside while providing free egress from within. Such capabilities are typically enabled through panic bars or commercial storefront handles that stay locked but allows anyone within to exit without unlocking or re-locking the door.

Areas like leasing offices or clubhouses may have restrictions or schedules for non-associates entering on different days or times of the day. Garage gates, as well as access points within the garage leading into the rest of the community, elevators and designated guest entryways, will require 24-hour credentialed access and self-closing functions to prevent unauthorized entry.

Homes:

Garden-style, mid-rise and high-rise communities have inherent and unique access needs. Many garden-style communities feature exterior-facing residential doors, whereas mid-rise and high-rise buildings have centralized ground-floor access points.

Cloud-based access control systems empower touchless access and seamless credential sharing. Residents can issue temporary access codes to guests and delivery personnel through their smart devices.

On-site teams can also issue virtual access credentials for after-hours move-ins and automate access termination upon move-out. They can grant home access to maintenance technicians and remotely unlock doors for residents. Associates can use the same technology to preset access parameters — granting access to certain homes, floors and amenities — for self-guided tours.

Amenities:

Strategies for amenity access also vary by community design. Depending on the property layout, some amenity spaces may require individual access controls. Communities that have amenities located in a separate building or on select floors can simply restrict access to those buildings/floors without installing redundant controls on amenity doors, thereby saving on hardware costs.

Amenities requiring reservations can be managed through Cloud-based controls to limit access only to residents with an allotted appointment window. Amenities with capacity limits can be managed by monitoring the number of users entering and leaving.

When buildings are designed with efficient and effective access control systems, properties simply run more smoothly. When residents can remotely manage access to their homes, and on-site teams are empowered to customize access permissions for the entire community, living experiences and job satisfaction levels are elevated. Partnering with a supplier that proactively monitors and consistently enhances software through remote system updates is essential to ensure continued building integrity. Community renovations and additions must also be factored into overall access control strategies. But with thoughtful access control deployment, communities can lease more effectively, operate more efficiently and perform at a higher level.